Sunday, 11 March 2018

JSS Student Collapse of Tramadol Overdose in Abia State

In Abia State, a JSS Student has been reportedly dead over tramadol overdose.

The State Commandant of National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Mr. Akindele Akingbade told newsmen that a JSS student in Ohafia LGA of Abia State, whose identity has yet to be known, reportedly died after he allegedly took 10 tablets of Tramadol.

The State Commandant disclosed this incident to newsmen on Wednesday in the state capital, Umuahia while delivering a lecture at a seminar conducted by the NDLEA on Narcotics and Abia State Drug Abuse Control Committee.

However, Mr. Akingbade also stated that the deceased JSS student was said to have overdosed himself of tramadol tablets in order to enhance his performance during an inter-house sports competition being organized in his school.

The deceased student was supposed to partake in the inter-house sports competition organized by his school before he died. - Mr. Akingbade added.

The JSS student died shortly after taking 10 tablets of the drugs.

At the moment, the governor of the state has been notified of the incident as he disclosed that Abia state was among top ranked states in the country with high level of drug/substance abuse.

Explaining that efforts were being made to apprehend the seller of the banned drug as directed by the governor, he warned patent drug dealers against selling drugs without prescription from medical doctors or pharmacists.

He attributed high rate of criminal activities, including armed robbery, rape, kidnapping, etc. to the negative effects of allowing illicit drugs to get into wrong hands.

The NDLEA state commandant said that apart from the agency’s resolve to take the awareness campaign against selling of harmful drugs to the abusers, the agency had begun encouraging schools to establish Drug-Free Clubs in their schools in order to discourage students from abusing drugs or taking illicit drugs.

He pointed out that the dangerous effects of abusing drugs or consumption of illicit drugs on human health were better prevented than treated.

The Director, Pharmaceutical Services, Ministry of Health, Chief Chimezie Uzuegbu, and Senior Special Assistant to Governor, David Anyanwu, commended the NDLEA for its “tireless” efforts in ensuring that the activities of drug dealers and users were brought to the lowest ebb.

Anyanwu specifically called for proper funding of NDLEA by the Federal Government, saying that he was sure that the agency would do more if it should have the necessary logistics and manpower needed to do its jobs effectively.